Wire tightener



June 20, 1939. s. w. CLARK 3 WIRE TIGHTENER Filed Oct. 19, 1937 1, X W"null m a X eaiye If Clark Patented June 20, 1939 PATENT OFFICE I WIRETIGHTENER George W. Clark, Timber-Lake, S. Dak., assignor of one-fourthto Julian 0. Rostvedt, Bismarck,

N. Dak.

Application October 19, 1937, Serial No. 169,883

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-47) This invention relates to an improved wiretightener.

It is well known that, in building and setting up the wood forms used inconcrete construction work, it is necessary that the forms be retainedin exact vertical or plumb position.

One of the principal objects of my invention is, therefore, to provide awire tightener which will permit the ready tightening or loosening ofthe m wireloops employed for binding together, elements of the woodforms so that said elements of said forms will be effectively retainedin proper vertically alined position during the pouring of the concreteand while the concrete is hardening in is the forms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire tightener which maybe mounted on the Wood forms in such a manner that accidentaldisengagement of the tightener will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which will employ a tightening screw, which screw is formedwith a swivel cap which will prevent embedding of the screw in the woodof a form during a wire tightening operation. 7

As a further object, the invention seeks to provide an improved wiretightener which will be characterized by the utmost simplicity and whichmay be cheaply manufactured and placed in use 30 with the greatestfacility.

Other and incidental objects ofthe invention not hereinabove mentionedwill become apparent during the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompany- 35 ing drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my device as it would appear inoperative position on arail of a wood form, the view being partly brokenaway and shown in section.

40 Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals ofreference will be seen to designate like parts throughout the views, thenumeral I indicates, in general, a portion of a wood form such as iscommonly employed for forming concrete walls and'the like. The numeral 2indicates a strand of binding wire which is employed for bindingportions of the form together.

In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a body 3 which is, asbest seen in Figure 2, of

oblong shape and is tapered toward one end. 55 The body is formed ofcast metal or other suitable material and is provided with a rounded end4. At its opposite end, the body is turned downwardly to provide a rightangularly disposed leg 5. Formed in the body medially of its width andnear the end thereof carrying the leg 5, is an opening 6 through whichis adapted to extend a nail l, or other fastening device. Although thenail or other fastening device may be dispensed with, if desired, it hasbeen found that such a fastening device tends to prevent slipping of thebody in a lateral direction. Formed in the side edges of the bodymedially of its length are oppositely disposed curved notches 8 and 9which are, in use, adapted removably to receive portions of the bindingwire 2.

It will be seen that by virtue of the fact that I have employed the leg5, the body 3 will be adapted to be positioned in parallel relation tothe top rail of the form with which the device is being used.

In order to effect a wire tightening operation, I employ a tighteningscrew II] which is best seen in Figure 1 of the drawing. The tighteningscrew includes a threaded shank l I which has a reduced head at itslower end, which head is shown in dotted lines at l2. The head isadapted to receive a cap I3 adapted to be swivelly mounted. At its upperend the tightening screw is provided with a handle M. The threaded shankH is adapted to be screwed through the end of the body opposite thatfrom the leg 5 and, as will be seen, when the cap I3 is engaged with theupper edge of a portion of a wood form and the leg 5 is engaged with thesame surface, rotation of the handle I4 will cause the body 3 to rockupwardly and downwardly toward and away from the upper surface of theform.

Although it is believed that the operation of the device will beapparent from the foregoing description, a brief statement relativethereto here follows:

After the device has been mounted on the upper rail of a wood form andthe nail 1, if desired, has been placed through the opening 6 and sunkinto the rail, the strand of wire 2 is looped about the rails of theform and is extended upwardly to project over the upper surface of thebody 3. Portions of the wire will lie in the grooves 8 and. 9 and will,therefore, be prevented from slipping lengthwise of the body. As thegrooves are rounded, cutting of the wire by sharp edges will beprevented. The free ends of the strand of Wire are then twistedtogether, as shown at l5, it being understood that the tightening screwwill be rotated counterclockwise so that the end of the body carryingthe screw will lie as close to the rail of the wood form as possible.After the wire has been twisted and it is desired to further tighten thewire about the form, it is only necessary to rotate the handle in aclockwise direction which will cause the end of the body carrying thescrew to raise and will, therefore, cause tightening of the strand ofwire about the form. It will be seen, therefore, that after the rails ofthewood form have been located in a desired position, they may beeifectively bound in this position by the use of my improved device.When it is desired to loosen the wire loop, it"is only necessary torotate the tightening screw in a counterclockwise direction.

My improved wire tightening device is characterized by the utmostsimplicity and efficiency. It may be used wherever the need for such adevice arises and it should, therefore, be understood, that I do notlimit myself particularly to the purpose set forth.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a wire tightener including a bodyhaving a leg engageable with one of the rails of a form, and a.tightening screw carried by the body at the opposite end thereof fromthe leg and also engageable with said rail, said screw being rotatablefor swinging the body upwardly, with the leg as a pivot, and tighteninga loop surrounding the rails and the body, about said rails.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a wire tightener including anelongated body having an integral'depending rigid fulcrum at one end,and a screw at the other end rotatable for swinging the body upwardlyabout the fulcrum for tightening a loop through which the body passes.

GEORGE W. CLARK.

